No matter their shape, their body of water, or the power of their waves, beaches provide an escape.
From pink sand to green sand to star-shaped sand, these beaches are not to be missed.
From Hawaii's Papakōlea Beach to Butiama Beach in Tanzania to Reynisfjara in Iceland, there are many incredible beaches all over the world. The new National Geographic book, 100 Beaches of a Lifetime, explores all of these destinations and more. Here are 14 beaches that are worth traveling for.
Japan’s lushest, warmest, most tropical region, Okinawa’s Yaeyama Islands are home to an unusual beach phenomenon: star sand. Closer to Taiwan than it is to the bigger islands of Japan, Taketomijima is among Japan’s southernmost, westernmost inhabited islands. It is also one of the few places in th…